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Diverse congregations join to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

SALT LAKE CITY – Two Salt Lake Valley churches have an annual tradition of coming together to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The congregation of the New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Kearns is predominantly black, and the congregation of the Canyons Church in Cottonwood Heights is predominantly white. The two churches get together each year on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, alternating locations each time.

Achieng Reggy, director of marketing and public relations for New Pilgrim Baptist Church, spoke about the tradition.

“And really what it is is Doctor King’s dream realized, two churches—black, white—coming together and celebrating a service together in the spirit of Doctor King’s dream,” she said.

Reggy said the tradition has roots that go back to 16 years ago when the pastors of the two churches met and became friends.

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